Construction of roadways, sidewalks, &amp;c.



No. 728,056. PATENTED MAY 12, 1903. G. D. WANSBROUGH.

GONSTRUOTION 0F ROADWAYS, SIDEWALKS, 8:0. I APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21,. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

we Norms PETERS 00.. pnoroumnu WASHINGTON, n. c

. UNITED STATES Patented May 12, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT DYKE WANSBROUGH, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,056, dated May 12, 1903.

' Application filed August 21, 1902. Serial No. 120,537. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, GILBERT DYKE WANS- BROUGH, a subject of the King of England, residing at 6 Old Change, in the city of London, county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Roadways, Sidewalks, and the Like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact'description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention'relates to improvements in the construction of roadways, sidewalks, and the like.

Great inconvenience is constantly experienced in large cities owing to the frequency with which the road-surface has to be distnrbed to obtainaccess to gas, water, and other mains laidbeneath it. The roadway also has periodically to be made good, which under present conditions is a long and tedious operation, seriously impeding trafiic.

By constructing roads according to this invention access may be readily obtained to mains and pipes laid beneath the surface and the process of repairing the roadway is greatly facilitated and can be carried out in a very short time. a v

The essential feature of myinvention is to construct roads by first forming a cutting or" trench of suitable depth (say about five feet) and then form a skeleton roof over same to support trays containing the materials of which the road-surface is to be composed; and in order that my said invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings accompanying this specification, which show one way of constructing a roadway and sidewalks according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a perspective and sectional view. Fig. 2 shows a plan of a few trays in position on girder-supports. Figs. 3 and 4. show sections of trays.

The same letters of reference are employed to denote the same parts in all the views.

\ a shows a trench. 1

b b are walls for supporting girders 0, forming the foundation of the road-surface, and girders d for the sidewalks.

e is a central support to the girder c. In the case of a wide road other vertical supports 6 would be provided to each girder c.

ff show trays of suitable size to rest on the girders c, as shown at Fig. 2. g g are similartrays for the sidewalks. The trays f and g are formed or provided with bars h for use in lifting the said trays. The trays are provided with a locking device; which may consist of a bolt formed of a disk t,'(see Fig. 2,) mounted on a pivotj. v A portion of this disk 7; is cut away, as shown at is, in order that in one position it may be flush with the outer surface. of the tray. 7 The bolt is turned by means of a key fitting in a'square hole in the pivot j. These bolts or disks '1 when turned so as to project beyond the outer surfaces of the trays to which they are attached enter slots cut for their reception in adjacent trays. Fig. 3 shows section of a tray fitted with bolts, and Fig. 4: section of a tray provided with slots to receive same. The trays are filled with macadam, wood blocks, asphalt,,1;u.bber,--' or other material of which it is desired toform the surface of the road or pathway. Certain of the trays g, forming the sidewalk, maybe provided with ventilators Z.

m shows the curb, and n the gutter, with gullies 0. These gullies 0 may also be used for purposes of ventilation, in which case other ventilators would be provided on the inner sides of the walls b.

10 shows a water-main, andq a plug communicating with same, b'y'means of which the road can be flooded in order to cleanse it.

In the case of a road to be furnished with rails for trams or other vehicles such rails would be laid on the girders c, and the trays for the roadway would be laid between and go on either side of them.

It will be readily seen that roads constructed according to this invention can be repaired with great rapidity, as it is simply necessary to take up the trays at the worn part of the road and replace them by fresh ones, which can be brought to the spot at night, if desired, when there is little or no traflic. This system of roadmaking ofiers great facilities for the laying of fresh mains, to: telephone-wires, and the like.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, be locked in position, substantially as deis scribed. IO

-A removable roadway comprising longitu- In testimony whereof I affix my signature dinaliy-arranged supports, transversely-arin presence of two witnesses.

ranged girders, and removable trays resting GILBERT DYKE WANSBROUGII.

upon said girders, some of said trays being Vitnesses:

provided with movable bolts and the adja- ALEX. BROWNE,

cent trays with slots, whereby said trays may A. D. VIDAL. 

